California Passes First-in-US Data Opt-Out Mandate for Browsers

Californians would gain more rights to block the sale or sharing of their web browser data under legislation cleared Thursday by the state legislature.

Under the bill, California would be the first state to mandate browsers such as Alphabet Inc.‘s Google Chrome incorporate such data-blocking requirements. Tech businesses oppose the measure because they generate significant revenue from advertising, which uses collected user data for targeted displays.

The Assembly approved changes 44-2 to the bill (AB 566) by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D) after the Senate passed it by a 30-7 vote on Wednesday.

The California Privacy Protection Agency ...